Dilloette Alumni Organization researches history for 65th Anniversary Celebration

  • Gale Phillips Ivy - back in the day! She served as Captain of the Dilloettes from 1963-1965. Courtesy of Patsy Hall
    Gale Phillips Ivy - back in the day! She served as Captain of the Dilloettes from 1963-1965. Courtesy of Patsy Hall
  • Top row (l-r): Sherry Dismuke, Mabel Ann Perry, Billy Jean Perry, Jennie Brown, Kay Behrens, Littie Galoway, Gail Sullivan, Susan Parks, Glenda Gage, Judith Murphy, and Patsy Muehlbrad. Middle row (l-r): Kitty Galoway, Andrea Oliver, Betty Smith, Sylvia Millican, Mary Jo Ellis, Nancy Taylor, Sharon Langham, Gale Phillips, Cathy Walker, Sue Nance, Francene Sharpiro, and Wanda Lusty. Bottom row (l-r): Judy Marlow, Diane Stanford, Nancy Gage, Martha Timberlake, Cathie Raesner, Sharon Isham, Linda Crim, Mary
    Top row (l-r): Sherry Dismuke, Mabel Ann Perry, Billy Jean Perry, Jennie Brown, Kay Behrens, Littie Galoway, Gail Sullivan, Susan Parks, Glenda Gage, Judith Murphy, and Patsy Muehlbrad. Middle row (l-r): Kitty Galoway, Andrea Oliver, Betty Smith, Sylvia Millican, Mary Jo Ellis, Nancy Taylor, Sharon Langham, Gale Phillips, Cathy Walker, Sue Nance, Francene Sharpiro, and Wanda Lusty. Bottom row (l-r): Judy Marlow, Diane Stanford, Nancy Gage, Martha Timberlake, Cathie Raesner, Sharon Isham, Linda Crim, Mary

    The San Saba Drill Team was first organized by Joyce Matthews Cameron. The team required no tryouts and consisted of 34 junior high girls, and they were called the Drill Squad. By 1960-61, there were 44 girls in a drill team known as the Dillo Dolls. In 1961-62, the group was moved to the high school level and became known as the Dilloettes. Billie Phillips Sawyer became the sponsor, tryouts were held, and 13 girls were selected to become the first Dilloettes.

    One of the several Dillo Dolls, still very active in our community, is Gale Phillips Ivy. Ivy performed with the groups from 1959 – 1965 and remembers attending summer camps for drill teams at SMU where she and the team were instructed by the great Gussie Nell Davis who started the Kilgore College Rangerettes. Davis is known for creating the first drill team in Texas and the nation and served as their director for 40 years. She was honored by many, and the Houston Contemporary Museum of Art honored Davis for creating a “living art form.”

    Ivy also remembers the moms of the Dilloettes making their uniforms. The group only had one white uniform for several years. Then, someone  suggested they create a second uniform from purple corduroy which proved to be an unpleasant uniform because it was very hot.

    Ivy served as Captain of the Dilloettes from 1963-1965. She is currently the Vice-President of the Dilloette Alumni Association and serves as the membership chairman. As fall and football season approach, the Dilloettes and the Dilloette Alumni are planning
    a celebration of their 65th anniversary. They will celebrate the occasion at the Homecoming Football game at Rogan Field on September 13th, against Goldthwaite and again on Saturday, September 14th, for brunch from 10:00 to 12:00 at the home of Martha Leigh Whitten. All current and former Dilloettes are invited to sit with the group on Friday night and attend the brunch on Saturday.